He is the third millennium pharaoh! Zahi Hawass, an archaeologist known to Egypt enthusiasts worldwide, owing to his studies, his findings and his constant presence through the Media of the entire planet, is now more than ever the third millennium pharaoh: indeed, this fascinating researcher, who has for a long time been the in charge of the Gizah and Saqqara excavations, next to the pyramids and the Sphinx, has just been appointed the Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, a position whereby he is totally in charge of archaeology in a country which is the symbol of archaeology itself.

Dr. Hawass, which priorities does archaeology have in Egypt?

Archaeology in Egypt and third millennium archaeology as whole is going through a pressing problem: the preservations of the assets found and their protection against polluting agents, which are increasingly invasive. I have given precise directions to all the scientific missions operating in my country: they are to promptly restore and preserve the antiquities they discover; this has to be a light but effective restoration work, lacking which a great part of what is brought to light runs the risk of undergoing irreversible damages owing to humidity and pollution.

Are discoveries in Egypt continuing?

At a striking rate. I’d just like to recall the latest: a tomb dating back to the Late period in the centre of Cairo; two statues of Amenophis III near Luxor, in the Valley of the Kings, which therefore does not only contain tombs; a necropolis with 3000 embalmed hawks in the Dakhla Oasis; statues and relics from the Ramesside Epoch in the Delta; remains from the Christian Epoch near Pelusium (not far away from the Suez Canal) and, during the latest days none other than the nth Pyramid (the 110th): this is a very large construction located in Abu Roasch (to the West of Cairo) and dedicated to Gedefra, one of Cheope’s two children, therefore from the same dynasties the Gizah pyramids belong to.

Speaking of pyramids, does the latest information made available enable us to understand something about their origin?

The latest elements confirm once and for all that pyramids were royal sepulchres, built by the Egyptians in the Dynastic Period, at the time of the Old Kingdom. In Gizah, not far from the Sphinx, we have found the sepulchres of the nobles, those of the workmen who had built the pyramids, and those of the artists who frescoed them: they were all next to each other, which proves that the whole area had been a vast necropolis, complete with its own sacred statues and sphinx, a legendary figure of Egyptian mythology placed as a protection of the sacred and cemeterial areas. Therefore it was not extinct civilisations or aliens who constructed these colossal structures.

We know that you have received an assignment for the study of the greatest mummy necropolis that has ever been found. What can you tell us about this?

This is a necropolis located in the Bahreya oasis, 250 Km west of Cairo. It dates back to the Greek-Roman period and it is huge: it contains over 10,000 mummified corpses, some of them with gold-embroidered bandaging. They are all provided with funereal clothing and other paraphernalia, therefore we find, next to each of them, ceramic articles, household wares in alabaster, jewels and precious stones of all kinds. These are often family tombs. We have recently found the body of a three-year old child with a mask depicting him in tears owing to the death of his parents, buried next to him. There also are sepulchres of notable personalities, such as the oasis governors, buried (and this is a major novelty!) with the same criteria and in the same zone selected for ordinary people. All this will be brought to light during the next campaigns and of course it will be duly restored.

Speaking of restorations, is the Sphinx in need of treatment?

Yes it is; it is a difficult ‘patient’, but our treatments are proving successful. The latest restoration, which has only recently been completed, has been the object of praise by all the European and American research centres: we have reinforced the most damaged parts of this statue with limestone blocks. Furthermore, we are in the process of creating some infiltration within the Sphinx rock with insulating material to oppose the fatal action of humidity, in compliance with the suggestions received from an Italian expert, Prof. Giuseppe Fanfoni, who has really made a name for himself here in Egypt.

In other words, Egypt, with its historic and natural beauty spots, is more than ever open to the beneficial influx of foreign tourists.

5000 years of history, which have witnessed the combined action of a number of different cultures, enable us to appreciate and benevolently welcome foreign visitors. Our people is warm and generous, proud of its past and dignified in the present. Foreigners are welcome, with special reference to European visitors, who however are asked not to impose their culture and vision of the world. Those who come to Egypt are to respect a country which, amongst other things, is a model of peaceful religious coexistence of Muslims and Christians. And archaeologists themselves, whose contribution is extremely precious for our heritage, are not simply to go hunting for sensational articles, but are to promptly restore and publish their findings, to ensure that the scientific community and Egypt archaeology lovers may be immediately informed.

Translated by interpres sas